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In stock
SKU
Story/Howlett Spruce/Mahogany 220426
Pete Howlett/John Story - All Solid Spruce & Mahogany Soprano Ukulele w/gigbag
£899.00
£749.17
Nestled in the Eryri National Park, in the shadow of the bygone slate industry, sits a small workshop. Where old wisdom is passed down to slightly younger hands, fine timbers and a little Welsh magic come together to capture happiness in four strings.
John Story has the distinction of being Pete Howletts last apprentice. It's a tall order joining the register of great builders working with and under the guidance of Pete Howlett; Tom Ziegenspeck and Dan Lipson both produce elite, truly world class Ukuleles and John's story (whilst in its earlier stages) is no different.
Building with Pete Howlett primarily the traditional Ditson style Soprano Ukuleles that got Pete wrapped up in the wonderful world of Ukulele in the firstplace 35 years ago - this Ukulele appears at first glance quite unassuming and rather historical but as soon as you hold it and feel the wider 38mm nut width and wide string spacing, it is easy to see that this Ukulele is a Soprano for all-comers. It's impossible not to just nestle in and play music for yourself with it.
With a gently figured and textured looking European Spruce top and the most gorgeous, reddish figured Mahogany (reclaimed from a once wonderful and regal looking table top) - the sound it produces is direct, deliberate and very confident for a soprano. Strident and melancholic all at once!
Pete likes to tell me a story about his history working with museums and curators and a 1920's Martin Soprano he saw which was lightyears ahead of the Ukulele at the time because it had a spruce top. Martin decided it just robbed the Ukulele of its natural chirpiness and character and sold it locally as a one-off. 100 years later we have come full circle with many ukulele players naturally moving towards the crisp sound a soft wood top like Spruce can produce.
Why a Ditson? Whats a Ditson? - I am so glad you asked. Oliver Ditson was the owner of a successful musical publishing house and instrument retailer in the North East USA in the 1910's & 1920's. Whilst being as far removed as you could really get from the music being produced from Hawaii, the company recognised the boom happening with the ukulele and the New York store manager Harry L Hunt specified that Martin make a Soprano with a wider waist under the Ditson name. These Sopranos have gone on to be incredibly collectable and as sought after as early Martins of the time. The Ditson company introduced the Dreadnought guitar shape at the same time which is a scaled up version and for most of the last century it has been the most popular size in modern music. It was one of those moments when the right store worked with the right builder to produce something special... kind of like our relationship with Pete Howlett and now his apprentices John Story & Dan Lipson!
| Brand | Pete Howlett |
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